Tank-car heating system



June 25, 1968 J. s. GIUNTA 3,389,697

TANK- CAR HEAT ING SYSTEM l@ .1- Ll uws/mvo@ /o EPH s. G/ A ay Mlm Attorney United States Patent O 3,389,697 TANK-CAR HEATING SYSTEM Joseph S. Giunta, Turtle Creek Borough, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 601,788 1 Claim. (Cl. 126-3435) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A novel tank-car heating system keeps pitch or the like molten during transit. Heated liquid is circulated through a tank, a heater and a coil in the car by a motordriven pump. A burner in the liquid heater is supplied with fuel by a pump and combustion air by a blower. A motor drives pump and blower through a common shaft. The heating-system units are mounted on top of the car, whereas a fuel tank and an engine-generator set are mounted below on the car frame in order that engine vibration will not affect heater operation and the controls.

This invention relates to a tank-car heating system. More particularly, it relates to a heating system for tank cars used to transport uid materials, such as molten pitch.

One means for delivering molten pitch, recovered from coke-oven tar or the like, is in railroad tank cars that are heated in transit. Such heating may be effected by mounting on the frame of the car an internal combustion engine, belt-driving an adjacent pump and air blower. The pump is connected in circuit with a heating coil in the tank to circulate fluid. The blower supplies combustion air to a fluid heater connected to the tank coil.

This conventional arrangement has a number of disadvantages. The -uid heater is subjected to vibration created by the engine, roadbed dirt,` tampering and tire from pipes breaking thereabove. The proximity of the units limits accessibility thereto for maintenance purposes.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing disadvantages of such a system and to provide one which is simple in design and easy to use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system including a generator and an engine connected thereto mounted below on the car frame. Electric motors drive a blower and pump, these latter units and a fluid heater being mounted on top of the car.

The foregoing and further objects will be apparent from the following specification when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a tank car mounting some of the units of a `system for heating the car as embodied in this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view showing some of the system; and

FIGURE 3 is `a side elevation, partly in section, of the units shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, tank car comprises spaced trucks 12 supporting therebetween a frame 14 having mounted thereon an insulated tank 16 with a conventional heating coil 18 therein. A heated, organic liquid circulates through coil 18 to maintain the contents of tank 16 at a preferred temperature.

The units or parts of a system mounted on top of tank 3,389,697 Patented June 25, 1968 ice 16 include a pump 20, driven by an electric motor 22, which draws liquid 24 from a reservoir 26 through a strainer 28 and a pipe 30. The liquid is pumped through a pressure-relief valve 32, a flexible hose 34 and a pipe 36 to a conventional heater 38 wherein it is heated to a preferred temperature. The heated liquid is connected to coil 18 by a pipe 40, the latterhaving a exible hose 42 and a valve 44 therein. A pipe 46, having a valve 48 therein is connected to coil 18 for the return of liquid to reservoir 26. A by-pass pipe 50, having a valve 52 therein, connects pipes 40, 46 at spaced points between the heater and valve 44 and between the reservoir and valve 48, respectively. Liquid in reservoir 26 may be heated prior to circulation through coil 18 `by opening by-pass valve 52 and closing valves 44, 48. This permits pump 20 to circulate the liquid between the reservoir and heater. Excessive pressure ahead of pump 20 will be relieved by the opening of pressure-relief valve 32 and tiow of liquid through a pipe 54 to the reservoir.

An electric motor 56 drives an air blower 60 and a fuel pump 62 through a common shaft 58. Air blower 60 provides the air required for combustion of the fuel supplied by pump 62 to heater 38 through a line 64.

A conventional engine-generator set comprising an electric generator 66 driven by an engine 68 is mounted in spaced relationship from the heater, preferably below it, on frame 14. Engine 68 may be supplied with any suitable fuel by a pipe 70 from a tank 72 which may also be mounted on frame 14. Tank 72 supplies fuel through a pipe 74 to pump 62 for combustion in heater 38. [t is obvious that a separate fuel tank (not shown) may be mounted on top of tank 16 for gravity fuel flow to the heater, thus eliminating pump 62. A cable 76 supplies electricity from generator 66 to motors 22 and 56. The car has the conventional access means thereto including spaced, parallel walkways 78 mounted onthe top of tank 16.

lt will be evident from the above description that my invention has a number of novel features and advantages. Compared to a conventional car-heating system, previously described, my liquid heater and pumps are not subject to vibration created by the engine, roadbed dirt, tampering and the risk of fire from ruptured overhead pipes. Vibration can cause leaks in the heat transfer liquid piping including the liquid coil in the heater, and adversely affect the usual temperature, safety, and valve controls associated with this equipment. The aforementioned units and others mounted on top of the tank are more accessible for maintenance and are well ventilated, thus resulting in a lower ambient temperature where advantageous. The position of the reservoir is particularly advantageous, since it eliminates the conventional heating-coil expansion line and tank, permits easier air and water separation from the liquid and serves as a gravity trap for solid particles in the heating uid, thus reducing the possibility of clogged strainers. This has been a major cause for heater shutdowns in conventional systems. The pressure-relief valve protects the piping from high pressures without liquid loss, since the liquid is expelled to the reservoir, rather than to the ground.

Although I have disclosed herein the practice of my invention, I intend to cover as well any change or modification therein which may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A vsystem for heating the contents of a car having a frame and a tank thereon comprising a heating coil in the tank, a heater mounted on top of the tank, said coil being connected to said heater, a pump connected in circuit with said coil, a motor driving said pump, a generator and an engine connected thereto mounted ou the frame in spaced relationship from said heater, whereby the latter is free from vibration created by said engine, fuel-supplying means on said car for said engine and said heater, and circuit means connecting said motor to said generator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Merrill.

Cleaver 126-3435 Rogers 126-3435 Devlin et al. 126-3435 X CHARLES I. MYHRE, Primary Examiner. 

